In 2001, before my first trip to Copiapoa country, I argued that the genus Copiapoa consisted of just one highly variable species. I hoped that somebody would explain the differences between the different taxa to me, but no one did. The only useful comment I received was that things would become clearer once I had seen several species growing side by side. Here we take a look at different taxa of Copiapoa, growing side by side in nature with links to pages to illustrate what I saw.

In some cases, the taxa concerned are so similar that some authorities have lumped them together at some stage in history. In other cases the differences are so great that it is very easy to distinguish the taxa involved, while in yet other cases it is possible to argue that some of the plants are natural hybrids between the two species.

It is generally considered that different subspecies of the same species are not found together in nature, so these observations are significant in the classification system for the genus.

• Huasco to Carrizal Bajo

  • Copiapoa echinoides & C. fiedleriana: S028

  • Copiapoa dealbata, C. echinata & C. echinoides: S030 = S200 = S307

  • Copiapoa dealbata & C. echinoides: S032, S100, S100a,S120
     

• track near Blanco Encalada

  • Copiapoa solaris & C. calderana ssp atacamensis: S048
     

• Quebrada los Zaniones (East of Cifuncho, South of Taltal)

  • Copiapoa cinerea ssp. columna-alba & C. taltalensis ssp. desertorum (rubriflora): S052
    = S128 = S260 = S275 = S289
     

• Quebrada San Ramon

  • Various forms of Copiapoa cinerea, including C. 'albispina' and C. tenebrosa, C. cinerea ssp. haseltoniana & C. krainziana & C. rupestris
    S054, S055, S056, S131, S131a, S132, S133, S134, S278, S279, S280, S281, S282
     

• Ruta 1 -  North of Playa Cachinalis

  • Copiapoa cinerea ssp. haseltoniana & C. humilis: S062
     

• Quebrada Botija

  • C. calderana ssp. atacamensis & C. decorticans: S067

  • Copiapoa ahremephiana & C. decorticans:
     

• 'Secret Valley'

  • Copiapoa cinerea ssp. columna-alba & C. longistaminea: S074, S158a, S237a
     

• Guanillos & Tigrillo Valleys

  • Copiapoa cinerea ssp. columna-alba, C. longistaminea & C. sp. Guanillos: S073

  • Copiapoa grandiflora, C. longistaminea & C. sp. Guanillos: S075

  • C. longistaminea, C. sp. Guanillos & C. laui: S076

  • Copiapoa grandiflora & C. longistaminea + intermediates?: S078

  • Copiapoa grandiflora & C. longistaminea but no intermediates: S079
     

• Las Lomitas - Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar

  • Copiapoa grandiflora ssp. ritteri (syn. C. esmeraldana) & C. grandiflora & C. laui :
    S088 & S089
     

• Pan de Azucar

  • Copiapoa cinerascens & Copiapoa marginata (bridgesii') & Copiapoa serpentisulcata: S092, S093 & S094